Stockton Social Security office to shorten hours

STOCKTON - The Social Security Office in Stockton will start cutting back its hours Nov. 19.

The Record

STOCKTON - The Social Security Office in Stockton will start cutting back its hours Nov. 19.

From that day on, the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. That's a reduction of 30 minutes a day.

Further reductions will begin Jan. 2, when the office will close at noon every Wednesday.

Employees will still work their regular hours, but the shorter time at the public window will allow them to complete interviews without working overtime, according to a statement released by the Social Security Administration. It's a result of significant funding reduction by Congress, according to the statement.

The office will also be closed Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving. The Stockton Social Security office is at 4747 Feather River Drive.

Visits to the office are not always necessary. Services such as applying for retirement, disability or Medicare benefits, signing up for direct deposit, replacing a Medicare card, obtaining a proof of income letter or notifying Social Security of a changed address or telephone number can be done online at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing the toll-free number, (800) 772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the TTY number, (800) 325-0778.